A History of Sharp Printers
'Sharp, Be Original'
Sharp printers are the product of founder Tokuji Hayakawa's revolutionary design and expertise. As the inventor of the World's first mechanical pencil, the Ever-Sharp, Hayakawa diversified his engineering to unveil Sharp's first copier in 1972. Leading on from creating copiers which used wet processes using the indirect electrostatic charge method, Hayakawa conceived the World's smallest and lightest copier in 1980, which won the top share in the U.S. market.
With ample expertise and manufacturing excellence, Hayakawa shifted his research towards multifunctional printers (MFPs) in 1990, showcasing reliable, high-performance copiers suitable across diverse industries and sectors, facilitating high-volume and high-quality printing jobs. Hayakawa's creative spirit continued to thrive in the 21st century, paving the way for engineering excellence.
1972 witnessed the birth of Sharp copiers with the release of the SF-201, building the essential foundations for modern printers. This copier facilitated booming industries globally, and its popularity was undeniably recognisable: in the first four years after being brought to the markets, Sharp released ten further models in the series, consistently boosting performance and quality.
Throughout the 1970s, Sharp released four further models, supporting the growing demand for printers and copiers; these included the SF-710, SF-730, SF-810, and SF-740. Across these four models, Sharp introduced the industry's first copier with an IC chip, the industry's first copier to use a mono-component toner pressure fusing system, the industry's first desktop plain-paper copier with a stationary platen and finally, a best-selling copier which enabled copying onto postcards.
In the 1990s, Sharp transitioned towards MFPs, with the SF-2027/2022 in 1992. The release of this printer coincided with Sharp's 20th anniversary within the copier sector, signifying 20 years of technological copying and printing development. This product was praised for its compatibility with modern workspaces, focusing on enhancing productivity whilst minimising noise levels and strategising space-saving techniques.
The turn of the century saw an increased awareness of the environmental impact of printing. Sharp committed to protecting the environment, creating a line of printers and copiers which ensured functionality and lower carbon footprints than ever before. A vital component of this transition was the release of the resource efficient Mycrostoner, which is still used with Sharp’s MFPs today.
In 2005, Sharp released the MX-2700FG, an all-in-one colour printer, aiming to streamline and modernise the contemporary workspace. This printer spearheaded the printing sector, offering colour printing, monochrome printer, high image quality, business solutions and improved data security whilst aiming to alleviate environmental damage.